FIX Protocol Limited

Membership Benefits

The origins of the FIX Protocol date back to the early 1990s with its history representing one of the truly unique success stories within the financial services industry. FIX began, and continues today, to be defined, managed, and promoted through the collaboration of volunteers who also use the protocol. In 1998 these collaborating firms established FIX Protocol Limited (FPL), a not-for-profit organization, to promote adoption of the protocol. Establishing a legal entity provided the ability to collect membership dues and to contract and fund services key to managing and expanding the use of FIX, such as developing and hosting the FIX website. In today's environment, FPL plays an even greater role with respect to intellectual property and other concerns. Member firms have also realized that being solely dependent upon volunteers can be limiting and often results in an inequitable distribution of work. As a result, FPL has taken steps over the past several years to engage service providers to help supplement the efforts of volunteers, to expand the scope of what FPL is able to accomplish, and to support the operational aspects of the organization. FPL has been able to increase its capability to fund projects and services. FPL's membership base has more than tripled since it began its membership expansion effort in 2002 opening up membership to vendors and other firms using FIX and in establishing product committees focused on fixed income and derivatives.

The vendor neutral FIX Protocol is used to conduct most of the trading activity worldwide, and although, FIX has established prominence in its use for equities and in certain markets, it is still very much poised for growth. Member firms enjoy a unique opportunity to participate, influence, and promote the development and use of a protocol they use to conduct their business on a daily basis. Simply put, FPL member firms contribute to the success and ongoing viability of the FIX Protocol protecting and enhancing their FIX-related investments.

FPL is a practical and demonstrative joint industry initiative with buy-side, sell-side, market centers, vendors and others working to improve the global trading process by:

• Resolving FIX-related technical, implementation, and business issues affecting you and your customers
• Ensuring that FIX evolves to meet industry needs
• Promoting the use and understanding of FIX among your clients and within your firm
• Obtaining access to and consulting with your peers within the broader financial services community
• Interacting and working directly with leading practitioners and companies in the global securities industry

Demonstrate your firm's commitment to the FIX protocol as an active participant in FPL:

• Promote your firm's FIX capabilities and usage with preferential placement in the FIX Products & Services Directory
• Gain recognition as an FPL sponsor via the FIX website and in other publications that list FPL membership
• Take advantage of marketing opportunities at FPL-sponsored conferences
• Use the FPL Member Logo in your marketing material or on your website

Participation provides the opportunity to ensure that FIX remains the de facto standard:

• Become involved in committee meetings and contribute towards the decision making processes as to how the protocol should evolve to achieve return on investment for existing and future FIX implementations
• Take advantage of speaking opportunities at industry conferences
• Aid in the creation of FPL's educational material such as the FIXGlobal publication and FIX Usage surveys
• Guide the direction of FPL by leading or participating in the election of leaders of FPL committees

Complimentary access to valuable tools and industry best practices:

• Download the FIX Repository - a new offering which represents the entire FIX Protocol specification in database-form that can be used in an automated fashion to decrease the time and effort of FIX-related software development
• Access member-only areas of the newly redesigned fixprotocol.org website with early information on emerging initiatives
• Access Word document versions of the FIX protocol specification
• View the FPL Member Directory which includes appropriate contact information for all FPL member participants
• Utilize full survey results and findings
• Ability to download the FIXimate tool - an HTML-based cross-referencing tool of the spec's message and data elements

Discounted opportunities for FPL members only:

• Receive reduced cost advertising on FPL website (Recruitment, Products, and Banner Ads)
• Obtain reduced fees at FPL sponsored conferences and networking events
• Receive free or discounted copies of educational material such as implementation guides and case studies

Please see the FAQs for additional information.